Thailand Beach Live Cams

Thailand Beach Webcam Guide

Phuket vs Koh Samui — Two Very Different Seas

Thailand's two main beach destinations face different bodies of water — and this matters more than most visitors realise:

Phuket (Andaman Sea, west coast) — Best weather November through April, when the northeast monsoon keeps the Andaman Sea calm and clear, visibility underwater can exceed 20 metres, and water colour is the vivid emerald-turquoise the postcards show. May through October is the southwest monsoon season: rough seas, heavy rain, and some beach closures. The Andaman side is where the iconic limestone karst islands (Phang Nga Bay, Koh Phi Phi) sit.

Koh Samui (Gulf of Thailand, east coast) — The seasons are offset from the west coast. Koh Samui's best months are December through September; the northeast monsoon that calms Phuket actually brings rain to Samui from October through December. The Gulf is shallower and warmer than the Andaman, with gentler surf — better for families with young children.

This means the cams look dramatically different at the same time of year depending on which coast you're watching.

Koh Samui — Chaweng Beach

Chaweng is the main event on Koh Samui — a long arc of white sand lined with beach clubs, resorts, and longtail boats anchored in the turquoise shallows. The cam at Monkey Bay Beach Bar faces the water, giving a live read on surf conditions, water clarity, and whether storms are building offshore. Samui's airport sits minutes away, so aircraft approaches are occasionally visible over the north end of the beach.

Best months to watch: January–March for the calmest conditions and clearest blue sky against the Gulf. December is peak season — extremely busy, flags everywhere from beach vendors.

Phuket — Three Beaches

Karon Beach — The second-largest beach in Phuket, 3km long, less crowded than Patong to the north. The Andaman Sea here runs a distinctive blue-green from November through April; when the monsoon arrives in May the water turns grey-green and whitecaps appear. The Karon headland separates this beach from the smaller Kata beaches to the south.

Freedom Beach — Only accessible by longtail boat (15 minutes from Patong), which limits the crowds. The surrounding hillside is forested down to the water's edge, giving the cove a more natural feel than the main tourist beaches. The sand is finer and whiter than Karon. Best in the dry season (Nov–Apr) — the boat operators don't run in rough conditions.

Nai Yang Beach — At the far north of Phuket, this long beach sits inside Sirinath National Park and is one of the last Olive Ridley sea turtle nesting beaches on the island. Turtles come ashore to nest from November through February; the national park rangers patrol at night during nesting season. The beach is calmer and less developed than the central beaches, with good snorkelling on the reef at the south end.

Thailand Weather on Camera — What to Expect

FAQ

Why does the water look different colours on different days?

The Andaman Sea's famous turquoise colour comes from shallow, clear water over white sand and coral — it requires calm conditions and low sediment. After rain, rivers flush sediment into the sea and the water goes green-brown for 1–3 days. During monsoon season, wind and wave action stirs up sediment continuously. The Gulf of Thailand side tends to stay slightly more uniform in colour due to the shallower, calmer basin.

Can I see Thai longtail boats on the cam?

Yes — longtail boats are a constant presence on Koh Samui's Chaweng Beach and around Phuket's Freedom Beach. You'll see them anchored in the shallows or making runs to the island. At Freedom Beach in particular, the only way visitors arrive is by longtail, so they're the main traffic in frame.

Related: Australia & NZ Live →  ·  Japan Live →  ·  Mediterranean Live →  ·  Browse all cameras →